3-MENDOUS: J.R. Smith lets fly with a 3-pointer over the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook with just over 56.8 seconds left in the Knicks’ 125-120 victory — their 12th straight — yesterday in Oklahoma City. (
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OKLAHOMA CITY — It was the most magical moment of a 125-120 win over the Thunder on the Knicks’ most magical day of the season. Raymond Felton drove down the lane, was met by the Thunder’s big bodies, stopped and lost his balance. As he fell, Felton lost control of the ball as the Knicks were losing control of the game.
Somehow, Felton batted it out to an unsuspecting J.R. Smith, standing behind the 3-point line. A surprised Smith collected it, and with the shot clock ticking down, fired in a 26-footer with 56.8 seconds left, lifting the Knicks into a 120-113 lead and ending Oklahoma City’s hopes.
“It was kind of crazy,’’ said Smith, who finished with 22 points. “I thought Raymond was going to get the layup. I started backwards toward halfcourt. He kicked it back. Looking at the shot clock, it was going down and I tried to get it as high as I could. My shot was kind of short all day. Fortunately it went in.’’
It was that kind of afternoon.
“It was just a freak accident, a great play. I just fell down and tried to get it back to him,’’ Felton said. “He did the rest.’’
A month ago, Smith had a chance to beat Oklahoma City at the Garden, but his buzzer-beater from the corner missed in a one-point loss. Smith was criticized for not driving the ball. Since then he has been a driving machine.
“That was a shot I normally make,’’ Smith said.
Yesterday, coach Mike Woodson had pulled Smith in the second quarter and the two quarreled as they sometimes do on the bench.
“We have our moments,’’ Smith said. “But he always has the trust to put me back in.’’
* Woodson, still hoping he won’t have a big-man shortage when the playoffs begin April 20, said Rasheed Wallace is making progress. Wallace was on the court shooting yesterday morning. His rehab will step up even more this week with shooting drills. Many had counted Wallace out after he had surgery on his left foot for a Jones fracture on Feb. 27. The timetable for his return was eight weeks, which would get him back for middle of the first round of the playoffs. But he may be ahead of schedule.
Wallace’s walking boot was removed a week ago and he has been traveling with the club since the West Coast trip, rehabbing and being a vocal part of the locker room.
Woodson said all his injured big men — Wallace, Kurt Thomas, Amar’e Stoudemire and Marcus Camby — are fighting to get back for the playoffs. Camby continues to suffer from plantar fasciitis.
“I’m hoping that I can get some of those big bodies back,’’ Woodson said. “We’ll get a better feel on Rasheed this week, get him on the court, moving around. If they do come back, we’ll weigh it as we come along. Nothing is set in stone. These guys are working to get back though.’’
* Kenyon Martin said he plans to be back tomorrow against Washington after missing his second straight game yesterday with left-knee soreness.
“Being thrown in the fire right away, it’s normal,’’ Martin said. “It’s normal. Doctor said she was expecting that.’’